The call-ins and giveaways geared to women, DJ appearances at fundraisers to fight breast cancer or benefit other nonprofits – plus established personalities playing the top hits – has made WKRQ-FM (101.9) the No. 1 station here with women ages 25-54 for most of the past four years.

"We give listeners local content and local personalities they can relate to," said Jeff Thomas, who has been waking up Q102 listeners with Tampa, Fla., BFF Jenn Jordan since 2002.

Thomas and his coworkers are very aware that people can hear the same music by Justin Timberlake, Pompeii, Rihanna, One Direction and Robin Thicke on Spotify, Pandora, iPods, phones, or satellite and other radio stations.

"We play the national music, but everything else is catered to women and the local community," said Patti Marshall, operations manager. "If something impacts women 25-54, we've got to be engaged in it."

WKRQ – which adopted the "Q102" branding in 1975 under Randy Michaels – has become a top station with the 25-54 demographic that advertisers want under Marshall, a former DJ. She's assembled or kept on-air voices heard on local stations for more than 10 years, or more than a quarter of Q102's existence: Thomas, Jordan, Jennifer Fritsch, Holly Morgan Collins, Brian Douglas and Laura Powell.

"Honestly, this is the best team we've ever had here," said music director and afternoon DJ director Douglas, who was hired in 1987 when the Q staff featured Chris O'Brien, Jim Fox, Janeen Coyle and Steve Hawkins. "We've had some legendary people at this station. But as a cohesive team, this is the best."

Yes, he's happy, as Pharrell Williams sings on the Q102 airwaves every couple of hours.

The turnaround traces back nearly 12 years to the hiring of Jeff & Jenn for mornings, radio's prime-time.

"Q102 was at the bottom of the ratings when we came here," Thomas said. Q102 managers "thought if they could get us, they could turn it into a top 5 station."

Now Q102's female audience in the 25-54 demo usually more than doubles other stations here, says Jim Bryant, Q102 general manager since 1987.

Thomas and Jordan remember touring the station and meeting afternoon DJ Douglas, whom Marshall calls "the heart of the station."

"We instantly fell in love with Q102," Thomas said.

The feeling is mutual with their audience.

"Listening to Jeff & Jenn is like sitting at a table with a couple of friends talking about the news of the day – pop culture, music, relationships," Marshall said.

They're so "unradio," said Bryant, who oversees four Hubbard Interactive stations here (Q102, WREW-FM, WUBE-FM, WYGY-FM). "Many stations still talk at their listeners. Jeff & Jenn instead invite their listeners in. ... They kick around their opinions and take listener input on that day's hot topics. It's natural, it's conversational."

The morning team also credits their success to Hubbard Interactive, their fifth owner in 11½ years at the station. (Douglas and Bryant in 28 years have worked for 10 owners, dating to Taft Broadcasting.)

"The company sees the way we work on a local level, and they back off and don't touch us," Thomas said.

Q102 conducts contests for women to "Pick Their Purse," and lets women confront guys who didn't ask them out again on the "Second Date Update" segment.

The station won national Crystal Awards in 2012 and 2009 for its involvement in projects such as the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, annual Bosom Balls to fight breast cancer, Panties Across the Bridge for gynecological cancer awareness and the current Movers for Mom collection of items for the Women's Crisis Center of Northern Kentucky.

Jordan, who has an autistic son, has raised about $2 million for Autism Speaks in eight years. And if DJs can't attend a benefit, the station posts info on its website and might even send its Mazda Q102 Heart & Soul Patrol car to the event.

"Everyone thinks we work four hours a day and leave," Thomas said. "This is a lot of work, but we do it because we love it. (Radio) is a very competitive field, and there are 1,000 people lined up outside the door who'd love this job. You've got to have a passion for this job, and the community you serve, otherwise it's not going to work." ■

Film commission executive director Kristen Erwin Schlotman (right) joined Jenn Jordan and Jeff Thomas at Q102's Opening Day Parade viewing party at Morton's The Steakhouse in the Carew Tower downtown.
Brian Douglas/For The Enquirer

Jennifer Fritsch (from left), Jenn Jordan, and a Q102 listener with Jeff Thomas at the "Jeff & Jenn" Opening Day Parade viewing party at Morton's The Steakhouse in the Carew Tower downtown.
Brian Douglas/For The Enquirer

WKRQ-FM's Brian Douglas has combined his passions for listening to music and taking photos into a photography career.

Guitar Player magazine published his photo of country singer Zac Brown for Collings Guitars in the current edition. Capitol Records sent him to Nashville, Tenn., to shoot an Adelitas Way recording session. He's also shot former Dixie Chick Emily Robison with her Court Yard Hounds band, and the touring Broadway "Flashdance" show.

"I love music, and I love photography. I'm really a lucky guy – but I work my butt off on this," he said.